THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 9, 1995 TAG: 9506080159
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH AND BILL LEFFLER, STAFF WRITERS
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Great Bridge and Western Branch, which finished 1-2 in the race for the Southeastern District crown, each claimed five representatives on the annual all-district girls soccer team as selected by the coaches.
Three freshmen are among the 16 honorees, a change from 1994 when the entire team was made up of juniors and seniors.
Wildcats senior striker Lynn Wheaton, one of two repeat selections along with Indian River's Christina Johnson, has been named to the first team for the third consecutive year.
``She's just exciting. That's one of the things we're going to miss most,'' said Great Bridge coach Harvey Regan of Wheaton, who led the district in scoring with 25 goals and is the Wildcats' all-time leading scorer. ``Whenever the ball came to her area we expected something to happen offensively, and it usually did.''
Wheaton, interested in playing for Campbell University, plans to visit the school this weekend.
Four players moved up from last year's second team - Western Branch's Jennifer Fticsar, Oscar Smith's Katie Rose, Indian River's Tiffany Swiney and Wilson's Natalie Barnes.
Joining Wheaton on the first team from district champion Great Bridge are freshman Meghan Salo and seniors Stacie Coates, Sara Wetherford and Stephanie Yoder.
Salo, who earned selection at fullback, got a taste of the talent in the Southeastern District last year as an eighth-grader who managed and practiced with the Wildcats.
``I knew she'd be a strong player coming in,'' said Regan. ``She's got good speed, and for a freshman she has great leadership.''
Coates, a four-year starter and defensive midfielder, is ``a quiet player. People don't seem to notice her out there, but she's a smart player,'' said Regan. ``She's always in the right part of the field at the right time.''
Wetherford earned first-team selection as a defender after taking a year off from soccer. Although Regan said Wetherford was initially a step slow, she finished the season strong.
``She got better and better. She's very skillful back there. . . she wins the ball from players and can carry it up the field.''
Yoder, also a four-year starter for Great Bridge, often marked the opposing team's best player, helping lead a Wildcats defense that didn't give up a goal in regular season district competition.
``She's extremely aggressive. She explodes towards the ball and is very tenacious,'' said Regan.
Western Branch, a winner over Great Bridge in the finals of the district tournament, was led by junior goalie Katie McPhail, who had 15 shutouts.
``To my knowledge that's the most shutouts ever by a goalie in our district,'' said Western Branch coach Howard Meissel.
Sweeper-fullback MacKenzie Martin, a senior, hopes to play at Chowan next season. ``She had a big role in our 14-3-1 season,'' said Meissel. ``Definitely she helped with our 15 shutouts.''
Fticsar, a senior who will attend Notre Dame but doesn't expect to play soccer there, has been a two-year starter for the Bruins at halfback. ``A very hard worker,'' says Meissel.
Mimi Knoop, a junior, was Western Branch's leading scorer with 14 goals. ``She has a very strong leg and took most of our free kicks,'' pointed out Meissel.
Only a freshman, Kathy Dalton played every minute of every game except one for the Bruins. The center fullback also scored a goal. ``A very quick player,'' said Meissel.
Rose, a junior midfielder, leads a trio of Oscar Smith players on the first team.
``Katie was a very critical player. She was the hub to the whole team, the transition between offense and defense,'' said Tigers coach Andy Overton.
Senior fullback Janine Birch led the Oscar Smith backfield at sweeper. ``She really played outstanding defense this year, and complemented the offense,'' said Overton.
Katie Kraemer, a freshman, led the Tigers with 16 goals even though she was hampered by a foot injury suffered in April.
``She's an all-around player. Half the time I played her in the defense, so there's no telling how many goals she could have scored,'' Overton said. ``She's a great athlete and has an excellent attitude.''
Barnes, the lone Wilson selection, is a junior midfielder. She scored four of the five goals by the Presidents this year. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
[List of First and second team]
by CNB